Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Cathedrals: Repairs and Maintenance

the earl of selborne: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Ashton of Hyde on 14 May (HL Deb, col 412), what are the 57 cathedrals; and how much funding was allotted to each cathedral from the First World War fund.

lord ashton of hyde: The 57 Church of England and Catholic Cathedrals awarded grants under the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund are: CathedralsTotal awardedCathedralsTotal awardedCathedralsTotal awardedArundel RC£181,929Lichfield£1,490,000Southwark£837,765Birmingham£498,927Lincoln£1,225,000Southwark RC£552,000Birmingham RC£227,000Liverpool£1,035,000Southwell£586,000Blackburn£587,701Liverpool RC*£753,541St Albans£667,610Bradford£686,502Manchester£725,000St Edmundsbury£650,000Bristol£214,000Newcastle£161,786St Pauls£280,000Canterbury£400,000Newcastle RC£167,887Truro£1,050,000Carlisle£575,000Northampton RC£35,000Wakefield£746,934Chelmsford£526,822Norwich£748,730Wells£606,802Chester£794,752Norwich RC£189,900Westminster RC£690,000Chichester£650,000Nottingham RC£330,000Winchester£1,000,000Clifton RC£1,400,000Peterborough£738,061Worcester£876,750Coventry£1,266,629Plymouth RC£1,142,496York Minster£800,000Derby£1,393,039Portsmouth£952,836Durham£1,167,651Portsmouth RC£79,800Ely£1,192,060Ripon£783,788Exeter£852,547Rochester£823,592Gloucester£956,040Salford RC£553,000Guildford£962,204Salisbury£1,135,000Hereford£920,000Sheffield£545,077Lancaster RC£12,870Sheffield RC£490,328Leicester£433,775Shrewsbury RC£530,866* Roman Catholic

World War I: Anniversaries

baroness young of old scone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War; and whether there are plans to dedicate any lasting natural memorials.

lord ashton of hyde: The final year of the Government's four year programme to commemorate the centenary of the First World War will see a series of events to commemorate the end of the War, and the path to peace. On Monday 26 March an event was held to commemorate the centenary of the appointment of Marshal Foch as Supreme Allied Commander on the Western Front, at the statue of the Marshal in Lower Grosvenor Gardens. It was attended by the French Ambassador, and the French Minister of State for Veterans and Remembrance. On 8 August we will commemorate the centenary of the the Battle of Amiens and the subsequent 'Hundred Days' Offensive with an event for 2,000 guests in Amiens Cathedral in Northern France. It is being delivered in partnership with the governments of Australia, Canada, France and the United States of America. The government’s programme of centenary events will culminate on 11 November 2018 with a series of events across the UK to mark the centenary of the Armistice. The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph will follow traditional lines, to respect its wider purpose in remembering the fallen of all conflicts. The traditional veterans’ parade will then be followed by a civilian procession made up of 10,000 members of the public who wish to show their thanks to a generation who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. An announcement regarding the public ballot for tickets to participate in this procession will be made shortly. During the day, church and other bells will ring out as they did in 1918 to mark the end of the war. The commemorations will conclude in the evening with a national service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London. Similar services will also take place in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. In addition to the national events, the other elements of government programme, such as the Schools' Battlefields Tours, the schools 'Great War Debates', the Victoria Cross Paving Stones, and funding for the repair and restoration of War Memorials will continue, to ensure that the final year of the War and the Armistice are commemorated appropriately. Historic England will also continue to research and conserve not only war memorials and historic buildings, but trenches and other fieldworks constructed during the war for training purposes, to make sure that our history can be enjoyed by present and future generations. Two of these, the practise trenches at Short Fell, Northumberland, and the earthwork model training trenches at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, have been added to the National Heritage List for England. A range of information, including detailed research on various sites across the country, can be found on their website. The Government has no plans to create any lasting natural memorials to the First World War, but I am aware of, and commend, the Woodland Trust’s First World War Centenary Woods initiative involving the planting of millions of trees in four Centenary Woods across the UK, creating beautiful places for the next generation to enjoy whilst providing a living legacy to all those affected by the conflict.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

India: Religious Freedom

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of India about the Indian states which have passed laws criminalising religious conversions, including whether those laws areultra vires.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: It is not a criminal offence voluntarily to convert to a different religion in India. However, some states have passed legislation making this process more difficult. The UK remains committed to promoting and defending freedom of religious belief for individuals of all faiths and beliefs, including in India. The British High Commission in New Delhi and our wider network across India monitor closely any reports of incidents against religious minorities.

Abduljalil Abdulla al-Singace

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain regarding the mistreatment in prison of Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace and allegations that he is being denied access to necessary medical treatment by prison authorities.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have raised this case at a senior level. The UK has a continuing dialogue with the Government of Bahrain in which we raise individual cases.The UK encourages those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies. We urge these bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations. The UK continues to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.

Kosovo: Rule of Law

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the progress of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, in particular in establishing an independent judiciary and prosecution service, and in preventing (1) the corruption of officials, and (2) the trafficking in persons and drugs.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) has made a significant contribution to supporting Kosovo's judicial, prosecutorial and law enforcement systems. Despite a challenging operational environment, we assess that EULEX has tried many criminal cases including serious and organised crime, and war crimes, which Kosovan institutions would have struggled to address in isolation. EULEX's formal work on trafficking ceased several years ago. However, it is EU Member States collective view that the time is right for its judicial and prosecutorial functions to cease, and other functions gradually to transition to other institutions. We welcome the fact that cases and capability will continue to be transferred to Kosovan institutions as part of that transition.

Conflict Prevention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for spending more on conflict prevention even where this may cause a reduction in conflict and post-conflict aid.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government is committed to preventing conflict across the globe, as I highlighted during my speech to the UN General Assembly High Level Event on Sustaining Peace in April. We welcome the report by the World Bank and United Nations (UN) 'Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict'', which confirms that preventing violent conflicts saves lives and is cost-effective, and that it could save the international community up to US$70 billion a year on average.The UK uses a variety of tools to address the causes of conflict (including diplomatic and programmatic) and we work closely with partners to optimise effective bilateral and multilateral intervention. This is done principally through the UN which is the key mechanism for maintaining international peace and security and resolving disputes. Through our permanent seat on the UN Security Council, we push for earlier and more effective action to prevent conflicts.A key tool for the British Government in addressing the cause of conflict is the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) launched in 2015. This financial year (2018-19), CSSF is spending £1.2 billion in over 70 countries to support programmes that tackle the root causes of conflict. Additionally, the UK spends 0.7 percent of its Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance, which we have enshrined in law. We have committed to invest at least 50 percent of the Department for International Development's budget in fragile states and regions.

Cameroon: Human Rights

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to endthe alleged genocideof English-speaking Cameroons; and whether they will consult with the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, the UNHCR and the Catholic bishops of the Cameroons about appropriate measures to enable refugees in Nigeria to return home or be re-settled.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to urge the Government of Cameroon to pursue an inclusive and purposeful dialogue to address Anglophone grievances.During her recent visit to Cameroon the Minister for Africa (Mrs Baldwin) met with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of External Relations, Territorial Administration, and Defence where they discussed the ongoing tensions in Cameroon's Anglophone regions. She reinforced the importance of respecting human rights in a challenging security environment.During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting the Foreign Secretary met Cameroonian Prime Minister Yang and pressed for urgent action to resolve the dispute and associated violence. The Minister for Africa also met with Commonwealth Minister Mbayu and gave the same message. She confirmed that the UK stands ready to help and engage with international organisations such as the UNHCR and the Catholic Church in resolving the crisis, including the refugee situation, through dialogue.

South Sudan: Politics and Government

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the situation in South Sudan.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The situation in South Sudan is appalling. Conflict has killed thousands and forced over 4 million to flee their homes. It has created a humanitarian catastrophe, food insecurity is at its worst in South Sudan's seven year history. An estimated 7 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year.Only political stability can end the humanitarian crisis. We welcome the resumption of the High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF) talks on 17 May. However, we are disappointed that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) signed by all parties in December has not held, and that the HLRF has so far failed to generate serious commitments from the parties to compromise.We strongly condemn ongoing violations of the COHA, and urge the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to take immediate action to ensure that those who undermine the peace process face consequences for their actions, to leave the parties in no doubt about the region's commitment to peace.

Maung Maung Soe

baroness kinnock of holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Canada following that government's decision to impose targeted sanctions against Major General Maung Maung Soe of Burma because of his role in human rights violations against the Rohingya people.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government continues to work closely with Canada and other key partners to address the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State, Burma. The Foreign Secretary and Canadian Foreign Minister Freeland discussed the humanitarian crisis last month during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and co-chaired a Foreign Minister level discussion on the issue. They discussed the situation further in a telephone call on 10 May.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for the Middle East on 19 April (HC135976), what assessment they have made of the ability of an organisation that investigates complaints made regarding its own conduct to be accountable, independent and transparent.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We will judge any proposal for an investigation on its merits. We urge that any investigation be independent and transparent, its findings be made public and, if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regardingreports of defence lawyers in Israel arguing that the prosecution of Israeli military personnel for illegally killing Palestinians would constitute selective enforcement of the law.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities.

Leah Sharibu

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about Leah Sharibu, abducted by the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram on 19 February from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State; and what they know of her wellbeing.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary spoke to Vice President Osinbajo on 26 February and extended an offer of additional UK assistance following the abductions from Dapchi. The Prime Minister also raised the Dapchi abductions with President Buhari on 16 April. The Government of Nigeria has said they are making all efforts to secure Leah's release. We continue to call for the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram – including the remaining Chibok girls. Attacks on schools and abductions of children are abhorrent and must stop.

Syria: Armed Conflict

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 29 December 2017 (HL4196), whether they continue to provide financial support to armed opposition groups in Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK continues to provide a range of support to Syrians to help save lives, bolster civil society, counter extremism, promote human rights and accountability, and lay the foundations for a more peaceful future. As part of this, we continue to provide some support to projects involving armed moderate opposition groups in Syria. This is in the form of non-lethal assistance and lifesaving support, helping them to protect civilians from the threats of criminality and extremism.

Syria: Armed Conflict

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 29 December 2017 (HL4196), whether they were also providing support to the local administration of Douma before the eviction of extremist groups from that town.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: To protect the safety of individuals and communities who have received UK assistance during the Syrian conflict, we do not identify particular locations of our support.

South Sudan: Violence

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the killing of ten people and the rape of others at Emmanuel College, Goli, in South Sudan; and what representations they are making to the government of South Sudan to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Embassy is investigating reports of an attack on internally displaced people sheltering at Emmanuel College in Goli. In South Sudan, human rights violations and the targeting of civilians are all too common. We regularly raise our concerns with the Government of South Sudan and with the opposition, and urge all to respect the cessation of hostilities, to protect civilians and to make the compromises needed to deliver a meaningful peace in South Sudan.The UK strongly supports the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms in South Sudan, including the Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing and the Hybrid Court, both to promote healing and reconciliation for the victims of human rights violations, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are held to account for their crimes.

Crimes against Humanity

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 16 May (HL6856), whether they will commission a review into the existing legislation on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and the effective use of such legislation by UK courts.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is committed to the principle that there must be no impunity for perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. Prosecution decisions are taken independently of Government.We do not currently have plans to conduct a formal review of the range of legislation that relates to this policy area.

USA: Undocumented Migrants

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about the current United States policy of separating children from their parents in cases of alleged illegal migration.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not made any representations on this issue. Immigration policy in the US is a matter for the US Government, just as immigration policy here is decided by the UK Government.